14 August 2000

FINANCE & EXPENDITURE COMMITTEE "AT END OF TETHER" WITH IRD

United New Zealand leader, Hon Peter Dunne, says the Finance and Expenditure Committee's unprecedented critical report on the Inland Revenue Department shows that the Committee is at the end of its tether with the Department.

Mr Dunne, who is both a former Minister of Revenue and chairman of the Finance and Expenditure Committee, says in the almost 14 years he has been a member of the Committee, he has never seen a Department criticised as strongly as Inland Revenue has been.

"It is a mark of our absolute frustration that despite a public inquiry, despite many blunt criticisms over the years, and strong questions from committee members this year, nothing ever seems to change."

"Inland Revenue just carries on its merry way, sublimely confident that mere here today, gone tomorrow politicians can always be seen off."

"The Finance and Expenditure has had up it up to the limit with this Department, and our latest report should be taken on board by the Government and the Department as being the clearest statement imaginable that enough is enough," he says.

Mr Dunne suggests that Revenue Minister Michael Cullen should meet privately with the Finance and Expenditure Committee to discuss what needs to be done to get Inland Revenue back on track.

ENDS

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